Chapter 219 Networking

Chapter 219 Networking

The following day, before heading to the academy, Adam went to Berger's store early in the morning. This was his usual routine since he worked part-time as a shopkeeper at Herbs & More.

As he poured a cup of tea that he had just brewed for the gnome, he asked what was bothering him the entire night last night, "Old man."

"What is it?" The gnome asked in a bored manner as he flipped through the pages of an arcane textbook.

Adam placed the teacup before the gnome and replied with a serious expression, "Yesterday a package arrived."

"Get to the point before I beat you," Berger grumbled in annoyance.

Adam's lips twitched. Damn you, grumpy old man!

The following moment, he cleared his throat and said, "It was from the King."

"Oh?" Berger's face revealed a trace of surprise. He kept the book away and asked, "What did he send?"

"It contained all sorts of magical ingredients. It even had beast cores. But what surprised me the most was the vial of Neer Springwater."

"Oho, interesting." Berger's lips curled up into a smirk. "He's trying really hard to get in your good books, eh?"

Neer Springwater was a magical catalyst that increased the chances of success in potion making. Moreover, the resulting potion had the least amount of impurities and its effects were also potent.

Needless to say, it was very rare in the Southern Federation. Even if one found it, they would rarely put it for sale if they could use it for themselves.

The fact that the King gifted Adam such an item spoke volumes.

"Trying hard to get in my good books?" Adam was puzzled. He asked with a tilt of his head, "What do you mean? I'm merely an Organ Stage Magus."

Berger took a sip of tea from the cup and explained, "It's not about what you are currently, but what you will become in the future."

"I... don't get it." Adam was still confused.

"You idiot." Berger was about to smack the youth but realized that his smoking pipe wasn't anywhere near him.

"Hehe, looking for this?" Adam chuckled smugly as he waved the gnome's pipe in his hand. "I am already one step ahead of—"

POW!

"That could be one of the reasons." Berger nodded. "Didn't you mention that you had an altercation with that Gracie boy in Glassford? And that Elrod came to your rescue when one of the academy professors tried to attack you?"

Adam's eyes lit up. "You mean..."

Berger nodded. "Elrod, a Magus from the other side of the Murky Mountains, being so protective of you may as well be one of the reasons why Arnold is trying to build a good relationship with you."

"Ohhh, I see, I see." Adam nodded repeatedly, but the next moment, he asked with a tilt of his head, "But who's Arnold?"

"That's the King."

Adam gasped in disbelief, "Old man, you... you know the king on a first-name basis?!"

POW!

"Who the hell do you think I am?" Berger roared. "Do you know how prestigious a status Herbalists and Artificers hold in these lands?"

"Ugh!" Adam held his forehead in agony. "No need to get mad!"

"Hmph!" Berger harrumphed, then took a sip of tea to calm down.

"Now you understand why Arnold wants to get in your good books, eh? Not only are you a Herbalist, but you also have connections with not just one, but two Rank 3 Magi."

"Ehehe~" Adam laughed strangely. "Guess, I'm moving up in the world, huh?"

The next moment, his expression turned solemn. "So what do I do now? He sent me such an expensive gift. Must I reciprocate as well? But I don't wish to spend too much money."

The gnome spoke in dismay, "You really are a cheap little fellow."

"Keke, you know me best!" Adam smiled abashedly.

"Do what you want. Send him back a potion made from the ingredients you got." Berger got back to reading the book. "Now, shoo. Go away."

"Alright, see you later, old man." Adam cleaned the counter and then bid farewell after taking care of some other minor chores in the store.

On his way to the academy, he deeply thought about what to send to the King. He knew he couldn't be stingy about it. It was the King of the Nightingale Kingdom after all.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he grinned.

That's right, that should be the perfect return gift, hehe!